Intermittent feed mechanism for cinematographic apparatus



Jan. 15, 1 24- ,480,864

P. A. REED INTERII'I'TENT FEED IECHANISI FOR CINBIATOGRAPHIC APPARATUSFiled Jam 10. B21 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TT'OH'NEY.

Jan. 15,1924 1 480,864

P. A. REED INTERIITTENT FEED MECHANISM FOR CINEIATOGRAPHIC APPARATUSFiled Jan. 10. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTO/PNEK Jan. 9

P. A. REED INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM FOR CINEIATOGRAPHIC APPARATUSFiled Jan. 10, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOI? PE Pcr Amman EssaPatented Jan. 15,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY am, 01' LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB TO CINE-CHROME INSTRU- MENTS,LIMITED, 01' LONDON, ENGLAND.

INTEBMIT'IENT FEED MECHANISM FOR CINEMATOGRLPHIG APPARATUS.

Application filed January 10, 1921. Serial No. 436,88

ar yhperiod.

e present invention may be conveniently and advantageously applied tocinematographic apparatus in which the intermittent feed mechanism is ofthe Maltese cross type, or of the pin and 'claw type.

According to the present invention, in intermittent feed mechanism ofthe kind above referred to, the drive is transmitted from a drivingelement by a cross coupling connecting axes which. are parallel to butout of line with each other.

Thus, for example, in a cinematograph wheel member to accelerate theaction of the Maltese cross with easy or gradual start and finish. I

The present invention may be conveniently and advantageously carriedinto practical efl'ect by unitin 'two axeswhich are out of line butmutua ly parallel by a Oldham coupling. The medial member having crossstrips or projections on opposite faces, unites with grooves in two iscsor heads which face each other and are fixed on the ends of the twoaxes. I

The position of the grooves and strips ma be reversed.

Iii intermittent film feed mechanism of the Maltese cross type thecoupling is introduced between the even drivin gear of the cinematographaction and the altese cross, the driving pin for which is mounted on anarm of the cross of the medial member of the coupling so that thismedial member becomes the finger wheel member whose pin presents andretires itself'to enter and leave tangentially the slot of the Maltesecross without impact, and owing to the revolvlng 11 land, have invented.

of the centre of the medial member on a circle described on the line ofcentres of the two axes as a diameter accelerates the action of the.Maltesecross with easy or gradual start and finish.

According'to which axis is the driving axis the driving pin is on thecross arm remote from that axis, but the driving pin can be on eitherside .of the cross arm to suit the particular arrangement of themovement.

The facing discs or flanges or heads and the medial member may be allequal size discs, and the driven disc or flange or head ma serve as thelocking rim for the shaped en sof the arms of the Maltese cross, suchdriven discor flange or head being notched to allow the arms of theMaltese cross to pass; also to allow the driving pin on the medial discor member to pass as it moves towards or, awa from the centre of thedriven disc as t e medial disc or member revolves.

The mechanism according to the present invention is well suited forenclosure in an oil bath in the usual or appropriate manner. film-feedmechanism of. the Maltese cross 1 type, the cross coupling may form thefinger The film shift period eing accelerated by a device substantiallyas herein described, appropriate adjustment of the shutter cover periodof 'a c'inemato aph machine must follow as a matter course.

The operation of .masking ma be provided for in accordance with any nownor approved methods.

- The medial member can also be fitted with two driving pins. 180 apartso as to impart two accelerated impulses to a. Maltese cross at eachrevolution of the driving disc..

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated byiway of example twoforms of intermittent feed mechanism under the present invention for usein cinematograph apparatus.

In the drawings I Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview showing the applicationofan Oldham coupling under the present invention as part of anintermittent film feed mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional side view and Fig. 3 a sectional view on theline A-B of Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrow C illustratinga constructional embodimenttype of V of Fig. 1 suited for a Maltesecross feed mechanism. j

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail views of the variouscomponents forming the feed mechanism of Figs. 2 and 3. v

Fig. 12 is a side view and Fig. 13 is a sectional front viewillustrating a variant form of feed mechanism according to the presentinvention adapted for a pin or claw movement, Fig. 12 being taken on theline D, D of F1 13 looking in the direction of the arrow Referring toFigs. 1 to 11 of the accomnanying drawings the coupling is introucedbetween the even driving gear 1, 2, of the cinematograph action and theMaltese cross 3 mounted on the usual sprocket spindle 4:- The couplingand the cross are enclosed in an oil bath provided by a casing or oilbox 5. On the gear shaft 6 is a disc or flange 7 and facing this disc 7is a second disc or flange 8 on a shaft 9. The axes of the shafts 6 and9 are out of line but mutually parallel. The disc 7 has a groove 10 andthe disc 8 a groove 11.

A medial member 12 has diametrical cross strips or projections ortongues 13 and 14 on opposite faces, respectively and at right angles toeach other, the tongue 13 engaging with the groove 10 of the disc 7 andthe tongue 14; engaging with the groove 11 of the disc 8,,

A driving pin 15 is mounted on an arr i of the cross of the medialmember 12 of the coupling so that this medial member becomes the fingerwheel member whose pin 15 presents and retires itself to enter and leavetangentially the slots 16 of the Maltese cross 3 wlthout impact, andowing to the revolving of the centre of the medial member 12 on a circle17 (Fig. 1) described on the line of centres of the two axes as adiameter accelerates the action of the Maltese cross with easy orgradual start and finish.

The convex rim 18 of the second or driven disc orfiange 8 serves as alocking rim for theconcave edges or rim 19 of the Maltese cross 3, thedriven disc 8 having a notch 20 to allow the arms 21 of the Maltesecross 3 to pass. The notch 20 also allows the driving pin 15 on themedial member 12 to pass as itmoves towards or away from the centre ofthe driven disc 8 as the medial member 12 revolves.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is illustrated a variant form of film feedmechanism adapted for a pin and claw movement.

In this arrangement the medial member of the coupling comprises twodiscs 22, 23 connected by a bridge piece 24 serving as a crank pin. Onthe gear shaft 25 is a disc or flange 26 and facing this disc is asecond disc or flange 27 on a shaft 28. The axesof the shafts 25 and 28mutually parallel.

The disc 26 has a groove 29 and the disc 27 has a groove 30. The discs22 and 23 are out of line but comprising the medial member have tongues31 and 32 respectively, the tongue 31 engaging with the groove 29 andthe tongue 32 engaging with the groove 30. A pair of claws 33, 34on'levers 35 and 6 are connected by a fulcrum pin 37 under the influenceof radius links 38 and 39. The levers 35 and 36 are connected to thebridge piece 24 of the medial member of the coupling by a sleeve andflange connection 40. Thus with a form of feed mechanism as abovearranged the claws describe a substantially D pulling the film down inthe flat part of the D and leaving it and returning for the next pulldown on the curved part of the path.

What we claim is 1. In a cinematographic apparatus, intermittent feedmechanism; for accelerating the film shift period and lengthening itsstationary period, said mechanism comprising a pair of shafts mountedparallel to but out of line with each other, a cross coupling having afloating member between the two shafts, means for engaging and movingthe film, an operative connection between the said floating member ofthe cross coupling and the film engaging and moving means, and means torotate one of said shafts, said floating member of said cross couplingtrans mitting an accelerated intermittent movement to the film.

2." In a cinematographic apparatus,intermittent feed mechanism; foraccelerating the film shift period and lengthening its stationaryperiod, said mechanism comprising a pair of shafts mounted parallel tobut out of line with each other, a coupling between the two shaftscomprising two discs facing each other and a mediahmember united to thefacing discs by tongues and grooves at right angles to each other, meansfor erigaging and moving the film, an operative connection between themedial member of said coupling and the film engaging and moving means,and means to rotate one of said shafts, said medial member trans mittingan accelerated intermittent movement to the film. 3. In acinematographic apparatus, intermittent feed mechanism for acceleratingthe film shift period and lengthening its stationary period, saidmechanism comprising a pair of shafts mounted parallel to but but ofline with each other, a couplingbe:

tween the two shafts con'iprlsing two discs facin each other and'a'medial member unite to the facing discs by tongues and grooves atright angles to each other, means for engaging and moving the film, aMaltese cross movement between the medial member of said coupling andthe film engaging and moving means, said medial member forming thefinger wheel member of said Maltese cross movement, and means to rotateone of said shafts, said medial member trans,

shaped path. v

, tionary mitting an accelerated intermittent movement to the film.

4. In a cinematographic apparatus, intermittent feed mechanism foraccelerating the film shift period and lengthening its staperiod, saidmechanism comprising a pair of shafts mounted parallel to but out ofline with each other, a coupling between the two shafts comprising twodiscs facing each other and a medial member united to the facing dim btongues and grooves at right angles to eac other, means for engaging andmoving the film, a Maltese cross movement between the medial mom ber ofsaid coupling and the film engaging and moving means, said medialmemberforming the finger wheel member of said Maltese cross movement, and theedge of a facing disc forming the notched locking rim of said Maltesecross movement, and means to rotate one of said shafts, said medialmember transmitting an accelerated intermittent movement to the film.

' 5. In a cinematographic apparatus intermittent feed mechanism foraccelerating the film shift period and lengthening its stationaryperiod, said mechanism comprising a pair of shafts mounted parallel tobut out of line with each other, a coupling between the two .shaftscomprising two corresponding discs having grooves at right angles toeach other and a medial member having tongues fitting in said grooves,means for engaging and moving the film, an o erative connection betweenthe medial mem r of said coupling and the film engaging and movingmeans, and means to ber transmitting an accelerated intermittentmovement to the "film.

In testimon whereof I atlix m si lEROY ALFRE R ED.

rotate one of said shafts, said medial memature.

